With the 55th pick in the NBA draft, the Warriors thought maybe
they had a player who could help them. Now, after watching
Chris Porter play in the LA Summer Pro League, their thinking
has changed.

"Can you believe this guy almost went undrafted?" said assistant
general manager Gary Fitzsimmons, echoing the popular sentiment
among Warriors players and coaches.

"He can jump with anybody," raved Antawn Jamison. "And his
intensity, night in and night out, every play ... I really think he's
going to help us a lot."

The Warriors, as you might be aware, need help a lot. Porter, a
6-foot-7 forward from Auburn, isn't going to be a star next
season or, probably, any other season. But he could become a
fan favorite, especially if his high-energy style of play helps the
Warriors end a six-year absence from the playoffs, the
longest-running streak in the league outside of Dallas.

In five games in Long Beach, Porter averaged 13.2 points and
4.6 rebounds in 27.4 minutes. Don't make too much of the
numbers; the Warriors don't -- and shouldn't -- given that NFL
star Randy Moss posted a similar scoring average in a brief fling
against the level of competition in this league.

Still, it's unlikely that Moss has the court sense, defense, relentless
energy -- the intangibles -- that Porter put on regular display
before missing the final two games because of a thigh bruise. The
injury alone makes Porter a fit for the Warriors, a team that lost
329 man-games to injury last season.

"His energy and his knowledge of the game surprised me," said
Phil Hubbard, a new member of coach Dave Cowens' staff. "He
knows what to do with the basketball, and he knows what to do
without it."

Considering the entire package, the comparisons range from
Jerome Kersey and Tyrone Corbin to Bo Outlaw all the way up
to Dennis Rodman. Porter's hair is one color, but there's enough
on top for him to look about 6-10. The Warriors say he's a "legit
6-7," 218 pounds. They see him as "a forward" capable of being
a defensive stopper against small forwards and power forwards.

"He has an edge," Fitzsimmons said. "He wants to prove to
people that a lot of players taken in front of him shouldn't have
been. ... This is a kid who's going to find a way to play in the
NBA, and help a team."

About ClutchFans

Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.